Yolo County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Yolo County?

Cannabis cultivation in Yolo County for medical and recreational use by adults is legal by virtue of the State of California’s Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), but subject to Chapter 4 of the Yolo County Code of Ordinances, also called its Cannabis Licensing Ordinance and the Yolo County Cannabis Land Use Ordinance (CLUO).

Adults aged 21 and older in Yolo County may grow a maximum of six cannabis plants, whether mature or immature, in the dwelling they principally reside in. The limit on the number of plants allowed applies no matter how many adults reside in the same dwelling. Homegrown cannabis can be for medical or recreational use but for personal use only and may not be sold or given away.

The personal cannabis grower must either own the dwelling or have the permission of the owner to cultivate cannabis there. Personal cultivation of cannabis may be done indoors or outdoors but is not permitted in common spaces shared with other residences. The personal grower must comply with all applicable sections of the CLUO, building code, fire code, and health and safety code. The growing area must be fenced in and locked to prevent access by children and unauthorized persons. No cannabis must be visible from outside the dwelling.

To cultivate cannabis commercially in Yolo County, a company must first apply for a state cannabis cultivation license or a state microbusiness license from the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). After acquiring the state license, the licensee must apply for the Yolo County cannabis cultivation license.

There are many types of state cannabis cultivation licenses, by lighting type and by total cannabis canopy area. The lighting type classifications are as follows:

1. Outdoor cultivation licenses: outdoor cultivation with no artificial lights

2. Indoor cultivation licenses: indoor cultivation with artificial lights at a minimum of 25 watts per square foot

3. Mixed-light cultivation licenses: cultivation in greenhouses, hothouses, glasshouses, conservatories, and similar structures where a combination of natural and artificial light is used

   1. Tier 1 mixed-light cultivation licenses: artificial light is used at a maximum of 6 watts per square foot

   2. Tier 2 mixed-light cultivation licenses: artificial light is used at a maximum of 25 watts per square foot

The state cultivation licenses by total cannabis canopy area are as follows:

1. Large cultivation licenses

   1. Large outdoor cultivation license: outdoor cultivation with a total canopy of over 43,160 square feet

   2. Large mixed-light cultivation license: mixed-light cultivation with a total canopy of over 22,000 square feet

   3. Large indoor cultivation license: indoor cultivation with a total canopy of over 22,000 square feet

2. Medium cultivation licenses

   4. Medium outdoor cultivation license: outdoor cultivation with a total canopy of 10,001 to 43,160 square feet

   5. Medium indoor cultivation license: indoor cultivation with a total canopy of 10,001 to 22,000 square feet

   6. Medium mixed-light cultivation license: mixed-light cultivation with a total canopy of 10,001 to 22,000 square feet

3. Small cultivation licenses

   7. Small outdoor cultivation license: outdoor cultivation with a total canopy of 5,001 to 10,000 square feet

   8. Small indoor cultivation license: indoor cultivation with a total canopy from 5,001 to 10,000 square feet

   9. Small mixed-light cultivation license: mixed-light cultivation with a total canopy of 5,001 to 10,000 square feet

4. Specialty cultivation licenses

   10. Specialty outdoor cultivation license: outdoor cultivation of a maximum of 50 mature plants or a maximum canopy of 5,000 square feet

   11. Specialty indoor cultivation license: indoor cultivation with a total canopy of 501 to 5,000 square feet

   12. Specialty mixed-light cultivation license: mixed-light cultivation with a total canopy of 2,501 to 5,000 square feet

5. Specialty cottage cultivation licenses

   13. Specialty cottage outdoor cultivation license: outdoor cultivation of a maximum of 25 mature plants or a maximum canopy of 2,500 square feet

   14. Specialty cottage indoor cultivation license: indoor cultivation with a maximum canopy of 500 square feet

   15. Specialty cottage mixed-light cultivation license: mixed-light cultivation with a maximum canopy of 2,500 square feet

6. Nursery cultivation licenses: limited to preparing cannabis seeds and growing immature cannabis plants, clones, and other cannabis plant forms used for propagation

7. Processor cultivation licenses: limited to cannabis trimming, sifting, curing, drying, grading, packaging, or labeling

The state microbusiness license authorizes the holder to do any three of the following, all in one location and subject to certain limitations:

• Cannabis cultivation in an area not exceeding 10,000 square feet

• Cannabis manufacturing

• Cannabis distribution

• Cannabis retail

In Yolo County, guidelines and procedures for the cannabis licensing program are established by the Community Services Department. A maximum of 49 cannabis cultivation licenses shall be granted, with a maximum of five in Capay Valley. A maximum of five cannabis microbusiness licenses shall be issued, but none in Capay Valley. All outdoor cultivation of cannabis must be screened from view from any public right of way.

All cannabis license applications, including those for cannabis cultivation, must abide by the following rules:

1. All applicants and licensees must submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check by the county.

2. All licensees must submit to the county their complete list of employees. Any change must be updated to the county within 10 business days.

3. All applicants, licensees, and their employees must be up to date with any obligations for child support at the time of application and throughout the duration of the license and its renewals.

4. Application fees and license fees to be set and amended by the county as needed must be paid by applicants and licensees.

5. A surety bond of $10,000 must be paid by the licensee and shall be kept by the county for the duration of the license and its renewals.

6. All cannabis licenses are valid from April 1 of the year of issue to March 31 of the following year.

7. The cannabis facility location must comply with the CLUO and county zoning regulations and obtain a cannabis use permit related to land use. No cannabis operations are allowed on public land.

8. The licensee must own the property where the cannabis business is to be established or have the permission of the owner for such an establishment.

9. Any cannabis facility must observe the following buffers:

   1. Existing licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 600 feet away from a residential zone, a residence in a non-residential zone, public parks, licensed daycare centers, private or public schools, places of worship, licensed youth centers, and licensed drug or alcohol treatment facilities.

   2. Outside the limits of any town or city, new or transferring licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 1,000 feet away from a residential zone, a residence in a non-residential zone, public parks, licensed daycare centers, private or public schools, places of worship, licensed youth centers, and licensed drug or alcohol treatment facilities.

   3. Within the limits of any town or city, new or transferring licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 1,500 feet from a residential zone or a residence in a non-residential zone.

   4. In Capay Valley, all licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 1,000 feet away from a residential zone, a residence in a non-residential zone, public parks, licensed daycare centers, private or public schools, places of worship, licensed youth centers, and licensed drug or alcohol treatment facilities.

   5. All licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 1,000 feet away from federal lands and tribal cultural resources.

   6. All licensed cannabis facilities must be at least 100 feet away from sloughs, creeks, rivers, and perennial streams and ponds.

10. All licensed cannabis facilities must be compliant with the county building code, fire code, and health and safety code.

11. All licensed cannabis facilities must not cause public hazards or nuisance through unsafe conditions or materials, toxic gasses, dust, smoke, odor, noise, heat, light, vibration, or traffic.

12. All licensed cannabis facilities must be enrolled in the county’s cannabis track and trace system.

13. All licensed cannabis facilities must keep their licenses posted prominently on their premises.

14. All licensed cannabis businesses must be protected with a security system equipped with surveillance cameras and footage must be kept for a minimum of 30 days. These must be surrendered to the county sheriff or cannabis unit upon demand.

15. All licensed cannabis businesses are subject to random inspections by the county.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Yolo County?

Manufacturing medical or adult-use cannabis products in Yolo County is legal as stipulated by California’s MAUCRSA, but must be compliant with regulations set by the Yolo County Cannabis Licensing Ordinance and CLUO. To do so, a company must first acquire a state cannabis manufacturing license or a state microbusiness license from the California DCC. After that, they must apply for the Yolo County cannabis manufacturing license and county business license.

There are many types of state cannabis manufacturing licenses, as follows:

1. Type 7 cannabis manufacturing license:

   1. Authorized to use both volatile and non-volatile solvents for cannabis extraction and processing

   2. Authorized to use mechanical cannabis extraction methods

   3. Authorized to manufacture cannabis products through infusion

   4. Authorized to do cannabis product packaging and labeling

2. Type 6 cannabis manufacturing license:

   5. Authorized to use only non-volatile solvents for cannabis extraction and processing

   6. Authorized to use mechanical cannabis extraction methods

   7. Authorized to manufacture cannabis products through infusion

   8. Authorized to do cannabis product packaging and labeling

3. Type N cannabis manufacturing license:

   9. Authorized to manufacture cannabis products through infusion

   10. Authorized to do cannabis product packaging and labeling

4. Type P cannabis manufacturing license: Authorized to do only cannabis product packaging and labeling

5. The type S cannabis manufacturing license authorizes the holder to do the following manufacturing activities in a shared facility with other type S manufacturers on a rotating schedule:

   11. Authorized to use only non-volatile solvents for cannabis extraction and processing

   12. Authorized to use mechanical cannabis extraction methods

   13. Authorized to manufacture cannabis products through infusion

   14. Authorized to do cannabis product packaging and labeling

The state microbusiness licensee can only manufacture cannabis products using mechanical extraction, mechanical infusion, or through non-volatile solvents.

The MAUCRSA mandates that cannabis products contain a maximum tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 10 milligrams per serving.

In Yolo County, a maximum of six cannabis manufacturing licenses shall be granted, none of which can be located in Capay Valley. All county cannabis licensing requirements and regulations are the same for manufacturing licenses as those for the local cannabis cultivation licenses.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Yolo County?

Medical and adult-use cannabis retail in Yolo County is legal as mandated by the California MAUCRSA, but is also governed by the rules of the Yolo County Cannabis Licensing Ordinance and CLUO. For the retail selling of cannabis, a company must obtain a state cannabis retail license or a state microbusiness license from the California DCC. Next, it must apply for a Yolo County cannabis retail license and county business license.

There are two types of state cannabis retail licenses:

1. Storefront retailer: Authorized to have a physical cannabis retail facility and to deliver cannabis to purchasers

2. Non-storefront retailer: Authorized only to sell cannabis to purchasers by delivery

The state microbusiness licensee can establish both storefront and delivery-only retail services.

Cannabis retail licensees are permitted to sell cannabis only to medical marijuana cardholders and adults aged 21 and older. There are no restrictions on the types and forms of cannabis they can sell. There are, however, purchase limits set by the MAUCRSA. It is the responsibility of the licensed retailer to ensure that every purchase is compliant with these limits.

For every adult consumer aged 21 and older, there is a daily purchase cap of 6 immature plants, eight grams of cannabis concentrate, and 28.5 grams of cannabis in any other form.

For medical marijuana cardholders, the daily purchase limit is 12 immature cannabis plants and eight ounces of dried cannabis flowers or the equivalent. If the patient needs more, the patient’s physician’s recommendation must indicate how much so that the licensed retailer can provide it.

A medical marijuana cardholder aged 21 and older who has already purchased the daily medical cannabis limit is not allowed to purchase adult-use cannabis in addition to it.

In Yolo County, a maximum of five cannabis storefront retail licenses and 10 non-storefront (delivery only) retail licenses shall be granted, of which none can be located in Capay Valley. No cannabis storefront retail license shall also be allowed in Clarksburg.

All county requirements for cannabis licensing and regulations for cannabis businesses are the same for local retail licensees as those for local cultivation and manufacturing licensees.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Yolo County?

The delivery of medical and adult-use cannabis in Yolo County is legal under the MAUCRSA of the State of California and the Yolo County Cannabis Licensing Ordinance and CLUO. Holders of the California DCC and Yolo County cannabis retail licenses and microbusiness licenses are permitted to deliver medical and recreational cannabis purchased from licensed retailers to medical marijuana cardholders and adults aged 21 and older, provided they also hold a county business license.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Yolo County

Yolo County residents can register with the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) program to get a medical marijuana card according to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 of the State of California.

The applicant must undergo a medical examination by a licensed physician to determine if afflicted with any of the qualifying medical conditions under the MMIC Program. Upon receiving the patient’s Consent for the Release of Confidential Information Form, the doctor must provide a Physician’s Declaration and fill up the CDPH-9044 form.

The following are the medical conditions that qualify:

• Anorexia

• Cancer

• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

• Cachexia (wasting syndrome)

• Arthritis

• Chronic pain

• Severe nausea

• Migraine

• Seizures

• Glaucoma

• Persistent muscle spasms

• Chronic medical symptoms that radically limit the patient’s life activities

• Chronic medical symptoms that affect the patient’s mental and physical health and safety considerably

The patient must complete the MMIC Application Form, with information regarding a caregiver to be included if one is needed. The patient and caregiver must then set an appointment with the:

Yolo County Department of Health

137 North Cottonwood Street, Suite 2100

Woodland, CA 95695

(530) 666-8680

Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the visit, photos of the patient and the caregiver will be taken. They must each have with them the following:

• A valid government-issued photo identification card

• Any valid proof of residence in Yolo County

• $57 to be paid as an application fee

• Medi-Cal card, if available, for a fee discount of 50%

• CMSP card, if available, for a fee waiver

Once the medical marijuana card is available for pickup, the Yolo County Department of Health will inform the patient and caregiver.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Yolo County?

Yolo County Ordinance No. 1496 of 2018 imposed a general county tax on all medical and adult-use cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas. The initial county tax for licensed cultivators was 4% of gross sales for every fiscal year, which increased to 5% on July 1, 2020. For all other cannabis licensees, the initial county tax was 5% of gross sales for every fiscal year, to be adjusted every 12 months by a maximum of two percentage points upward or downward. The general county tax on cannabis was given a cap of 15% of gross sales for a fiscal year.

Data from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) shows that the state has earned for the third quarter of 2022, based on November 16, 2022 figures, a total of $242 million, of which $113.6 million were from cannabis sales taxes and $128.4 million from cannabis excise taxes., The sum does not cover local government taxes.

State cannabis tax revenues were higher in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022 because they included cannabis cultivation taxes amounting to $27.5 million. The collection of cultivation taxes was, however, stopped in July 2022. The total revenue for Q2 was $299.8 million, with $146.7 million from cannabis excise taxes and $125.6 million from cannabis sales taxes.

In the period from January 2018 to November 16, 2022, $4.4 billion was earned by the State of California from cannabis state tax revenues. Of this, $2.2 billion was from excise taxes, $1.7 billion was from sales taxes, and $500.3 million was from earlier cultivation taxes.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Yolo County

The Compassionate Use Act legalized medical cannabis in Yolo County in 1996, while MAUCRSA legalized adult-use cannabis in 2016.

Data from the Yolo County Sheriff's Office on the FBI’s Crime Explorer page shows that in 1995, there were 35 arrests related to marijuana offenses, of which 19 were for marijuana possession, and 16 were for marijuana manufacturing or sales. In 2020, this decreased to seven arrests related to marijuana offenses, of which five were for marijuana possession, and two were for marijuana manufacturing or sales.

There were 19 DUI arrests in 1995. This increased to 23 DUI arrests in 2020.